Combined table and carrying case



oct. 23, 1934. M, H JQHNSN 1,978,310

COMBINED TABLE AND CARRYING CASE Filed April 2l, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Y /df f l v i 4f 7 l x7 'I l, ll /f '/7 /Ji /7 Oct. 23, 1934. VM H. JOHNSON COMBINED TABLE AND CRRYING CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 2l, 1955 M U a @15. W

Patented Oct. 23- 19'34- PATENT orl'ficr.N

. 1,978,310 COMBINED TABLE AND CARnYr-NGVCASE; Montgomeryl H. Johnson, Provincetown, Mass Application April 21, 1933; sefrialNo: 667,218`

9 Claims..

'I'his invention relates to a combined table and carrying case and has for its object to provide a table of novel construction, the component parts of which may be` dismantled and reassembled in a manner to constitute a convenient carrying case. j. y

Another object of the invention toprovide a novel combination of disconnected elements which may be easily and quickly lassembled to constitute either a table or a, carrying case.

The invention consists in a combined tableand carrying case as set forth vin the followingspecication and x particularly `as pointed out in the claims thereof. i i o lReferringfto the drawingsf- Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of` a table embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is anend view of the table.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the component parts of the table assembled to form a carrying case. i v

`Fig."4.is an enlarged detail transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken on the line`5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on the line 6'6 of Fig. 1i. Y

Fig. 7 is an-enlarged detail horizontalv section taken on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side `elevation of a handle for the carrying case.

Fig. 9 isvasectional elevation illustrating a modified embodimentof my invention, portions thereof being broken away to save space in the drawings. l f

Fig. 10 is another sectional elevationof the structure disclosed infFi'g; 9 also vbroken away to save space in the drawings. l 1

Fig. 11 is a .plan illustrating the table structure disclosed inligs.` 9 and 10 assembled to form a carrying case. v 1 r 1131? Fig. 12i`s anrend -view of the'carryin'g rcas'e.v 1 1 Fig-"13 is "ai'sectional elevation takenworilthe line *13-13 of 'Fig 12,` lookingxin the direction Iof the arrows on said line. ai. f

Fig. 14 is a'perspectiveview of one of the members` upon which the'shelf isusuppoited.`

wLike numeralsreferv `to like` parts- `throughout the` several views fof the drawings.'iz=A f' .Inthe drawings, and B representgthe top and shelf members respectively of a table, and 10 representslegs by means of whichthe top and shelf vare supported and spaced one above another. :The top A'and shelf B are similar in construction vexcept for; slight minor detailshere-f (Cl. i 1590-12) inafter describedV and embody therein a top plate 11, opposite side walls 12 and opposite end walls 13, said walls being permanently secured in any suitable manner to the under side of the top plate 11. The legs 10 are the exact length of the side walls 12 and top plate 11 and the height of the end walls 13 exceeds the height of the side walls 12 by an amount which is equal to the Width of ythe legs 10 while thethickness of the legs `10 is the same as the thickness of the side walls-12.

The legs 10lare detachably secured at their upper ends to the inner side of the table top `A by means of bolts 14 which extend through the side walls 12 and legs 10 and the legs are clamped against the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 by means of suitable nuts 15 which are embedded in thelegs 10. The shelf B is secured to the legs 10 at intermediate points thereon by means of bolts 16, said legs being `securely clamped against the outer surfaces of the side walls 12. In securing the legs 10 to the shelf B the bolts 16 are inserted through the-legs 10 and side walls l2 and engage nuts 1'7 which are embedded in recesses 18 provided upon the inner'side of" the side Walls. The nuts 17 are permanently secured in the recesses 18 and are also non-rotatable therein.

When it is desiredto transport the table from place to place, or to utilize the component parts thereof as a carrying case, the bolts 14v and 16 vare removed and the members A and B are positioned as illustrated in Fig; 3 with the end walls 13 abutting `together edge to edge. The leg members 10 are then vplaced in the spaces between the opposite edgeportions of the sidewalls 12. When in" position, two leg members positioned together edge to edge-will entirely` ll the space which exists between the edges of the opposite side walls. [The top Auand shelf B, together withthe legs 10,- areall securely'clamped together to complete the carrying case by means of a plurality of bolts 19; certain of which extend through openings provided therefor in the top plate 11 of the shelf B' and through the end walls 13 of both the shelf B and top A, see' Fig. 5. Each bolt 19 finally engfages a nut 2 0 which isembedded in the edge portionof the side and end walls which abuts against the under surface of the top plate 11 of the top A, said nut being non-rotatably mounted in said recess. The nuts 20 are placed in their respective recesses 21` before the side and end walls are secured to theftop plate 11 .of the table top A. The bolts 19 not only clamp the top A and shelf B firmly together, but certain of said bolts also hold the legs l0 firmly secured in the space between the opposite edges of the side walls 12, said bolts extending through the top plate 11 of the shelf B, through the side walls 12 and through holes 22 provided therefor in the legs 10, nally engaging the nuts 20, see Fig. 4. One of the bolts 19, furthermore, is utilized as a means for securing a handle 23 to the carrying case. This handle 23 has a thin T-shaped metal member'24 secured thereto which is interposed between two of the leg members l0 when they are being placed in position to complete the wall of the carrying case and this member is provided with a bottom Vflange 25 which engages the under surface of these legs 10. The bolt 19 passes through a hole 26 provided in the member 24 and thereby holds the handle firmly in position, see Fig. 4.

The various parts that comprise this invention may be easily and quicklyassembled to constitute either a table or a carrying case. When assembled as a table a simple, rugged structure is provided having a convenient shelf embodied therein of the same area as the top, and the capacity of the table therefore `is doubled. The shelf, furthermore, acts to brace the legs 10.

When it is desired to transport the table from one place to another the table may be dismantled and the parts reassembled to forma carrying case and at such times this case may be utilized for the purpose of packing supplies which may be inserted through the space at the top of the case, which is finally closed by two of the legs 10 of the table. By embedding the'nuts 20 in complemen- 'zary recesses in the side and end walls, these nuts are always located in position to receive the bolts 19 and there is no danger of their ever being misplaced. The bolts 19, furthermore, form a very convenient means for securing the members A 4o and B together and at the same time securing the legs l0 in the spaces between the opposite edges of the side walls.

In Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive I have illustrated a modified embodiment of my -invention in which C and D represent the top and shelf members respectively of another form of combination table and carrying-case embodying my invention and 30 represents legs, by means of which the top and shelf are supported and spaced one above another. The top C and shelf D are similar in construction except for slight minor details hereinafter described and embody therein a top plate 31, opposite side walls 32 and opposite end walls 33, said walls being permanently secured in any i suitable manner to the under side of the top plate 31. The legs 30 are the length of the table top or shelf less the thickness of the two end walls and when these legs are assembled to form a carrying case they fit into the table top and shelf between the end walls thereof. The. height of the end walls 33 exceeds the height of the side walls 32 by an amount which is equal to the widthpf the legsv30 while the thickness of the,V legs 30 is the same as the thickness of the side walls 32. Me-

't tallic angle members 34 are provided at the corprojects into a recess 38 provided in an edge of the leg, see Fig. 9.

Secured to the inner side of each leg 30 at an intermediate point thereon is a supporting member 39 provided with a groove 40 in its upper surface and upwardly projecting portions 41 at the outer end thereof upon opposite sides of the groove 40. The shelf D rests upon these supporting members 39 with the end walls 33 resting in the grooves 40. A stay 42 is provided at each corner portion of the shelf D and the lower extremity of each stay rests against the top surface ofthe supporting member 39 at the rear of one of the projections 41. A strap 43 is fastened to the inner surface of two of the legs 30, and a bar 44 pivotally attached at 45 to the top C is adapted to be inserted through these straps and also through an opening provided therefor in a handle 46, thereby securing said handle between the adjacent surfaces of said legs in exactly the same manner as is the handle 23 previously described.

It is evident that if it is so desired, the bar 44 may be permanently attached to the handle 46 instead of being pivotally attached to the top member C, in which event the opposite end portions of the bar will also be inserted through the straps 43 as previously described. Clamps 47, members of which are secured to both the top and shelf, are provided for the purpose of securing these members together when they are positioned to form the carrying case.

The various parts illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive may be'easily and vquickly assembled to constitute either a table or carrying case in practically the same manner as are the parts illustrated in Figs. l to 8 inclusive, the differences between the two structures consisting principally in the specific fastening means that are utilized in securing the parts together.

I claim:

1. A combination table and carrying case comprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and each having side and end walls embodied therein, and a plurality of legs supporting said top and shelf and spacing the same apart, said legs being detachably secured vat their upper ends to the inner side of the table top and said shelf being mounted upon the inner side of said legs at intermediate points thereof.

2. A combination table and carrying case comprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned 'therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and adapted to constitute the opposite'side portions of a Carrying case, and a plurality of legs for said top detachably secured thereto while constituting supports therefory and saidA shelf being detachably mountedupon and 'confined between said legs, the latter also being adapted to belaligned edge to edge with'side portions of said top 'and shelf 'and close' an'l opening therebetween and complete the walls of the carrying case when assembled to function as such.

3. A combination table and carrying case comprising, in combinatioma table top, a shelf positioned' therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in-construc'tion and each having side an-d end 'walls embodied therein adapted to constitute the opposite side portions of a carrylng case, and a plurality of legs of a length approximating that of the top and shelf and detachably secured to said table top while constituting supports therefor, said shelf Abeing mounted upon the inner side of said legs at intermediate points thereof and said legs also being adapted to align edge to edge With the side walls of said top and shelf to complete the walls of the carrying case when assembled to function as such.

4. A combination table and carrying case cornprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and having a top plate, opposite side walls and opposite end walls embodied therein, the end walls being of greater height than the side walls, and a plurality of legs of a length approximating that of the top and shelf and detachably secured to saidtop while constituting supports therefor, the width of each leg being equal to the difference between the height of the end and side walls, whereby said legs will t the openings in said side walls when the parts are assembled to function as a carrying case.

5. A combination table and carrying case comprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and each having side and end walls embodied therein adapted to constitute the opposite side portions of a carrying case, a plurality of legs of a length approximating that of the top and shelf and detachably secured to said top while constituting supports therefor, said shelf being adapted to rest upon said legs at an intermediate point thereon and means to simultaneously clamp the top and shelf together with the legs interposed therebetween, thereby completing the walls of the carrying case when the parts are assembled to function as such;

6. A combination table and carrying case comprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and each having side and end walls embodied therein adapted to constitute the opposite side portions of a carrying case, a plurality of legs of a length equal to that of the top and shelf and detachably secured to said top while constituting supports therefor, said shell being mounted upon the inner side of said legs, a handle, and means to simultaneously secure the top, shelf, leg members and handle together to complete the carrying case when said parts are assembled to function as such.

7. A combination table and carrying case cornprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and each having side and end Walls embodied therein adapted to constitute the opposite side portions of a carrying case and said top having sockets provided therein, means to clamp the top and shelf together when forming the carrying case, and a plurality of legs for the top and shelf detachably secured to said top within said sockets, said shelf being supported at an intermediate point upon the legs, said legs also being adapted to be inserted in openings provided between the side walls of the top and shelf and co-operate therewith to form the Walls of the carrying case when assembled to function as such.

8. A combination table and carrying case comprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and each having side and end walls embodied therein adapted to constitute the opposite side portions of a carrying case and said top having sockets provided therein, means to clamp the top and shelf together when forming the carrying case, a plurality of legs for the top and shelf detachably secured to said top within said sockets, and a supporting member fast to each leg at an intermediate point thereon and provided with a groove therein, said shelf being supported upon said members and positioned within the grooves thereof, the legs also being adapted to be inserted in openings provided between the side Walls of the top and shelf and co-operate therewith to form the Walls of the carrying case when assembled to function as such.

9. A combination table and carrying case oomprising, in combination, a table top, a shelf positioned therebeneath, said table top and shelf being similar in construction and each having side and end Walls embodied therewith adapted to constitute the opposite side portions of a carrying case and said top having sockets provided therein, means to clamp the top and shelf together when forming the carrying case, a plurality of legs for the top and shelf detachably secured to said top within said sockets, said shelf being supported at an intermediate point upon the legs, said legs being adapted to be inserted in openings provided between the side walls of the top and shelf and co-operate therewith to form the walls of the carrying case when assembled to function as such, a strap fastened .1,25 to certain of said legs, a handle, and a bar upon the inner side of the case adapted to be inserted through said straps and also interlocked with said handle thereby fastening the latter to the case. 

